Street lamps will be key to helping prepare the nation’s roads for a digital revolution.
That is the message from National Highways, which says new technology such as 5G will allow street lighting to be used for far more than just illumination.
It follows a successful ‘proof of concept’ trial, which saw intelligent street lighting installed at the M40 junction 15 Longbridge roundabout, near Birmingham.
Illuminating the future
National Highways says drivers will have ‘been oblivious to the CCTV and communications technology hidden away in the street lamps’ at Longbridge. This was thanks to the work being done at the same time as an upgrade to LED lighting.
Conducted over five months at the end of 2021, the trial (fittingly named ‘Illuminate’) demonstrated the potential of street lighting. The lights were able to communicate data back to remote office equipment and tablet computers.
Illuminate’s initial success will now be used to help shape National Highways’ approach to managing Connected and Autonomous (CAV) infrastructure.
Truly smart roads
National Highways envisages the ability to communicate information to autonomous vehicles, such as speed limit restrictions, or warnings about hazards. Connected cars would receive these messages directly, rather than relying on drivers seeing overhead gantry signs.
The emergence of 5G connectivity allows the additional bandwidth to connect multiple cameras and wireless access points to street lighting.
National Highways’ innovations lead for the Midlands, Lisa Maric, said: “These are exciting times as we progress on our Digital Roads journey with the growth of digital technology and the move to electric, connected and autonomous vehicles that will fundamentally change how we use roads in the future.
“National Highways is committed to ensuring we are at the forefront of this digital revolution and is preparing the way for the greener and safer roads of tomorrow.
“Initial trials such as Illuminate will help us identify new innovations, technology and methods to meet our digital goals. We were pleased with how Illuminate performed as a proof of concept and the useful knowledge gained as we continue to plan for the roads of the future.”
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